Heat forward LeBron James is the most explosive in-game and pregame dunker in the NBA. But he won't enter a contest. / Howard Smith, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this year, a fan tried to garner $1 million to get LeBron James into the 2013 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest. His online fundraiser stalled out at about $4,000. If only there were a very rich benefactor to contribute a full million ...

It would have to be someone who loves the NBA and watching the Miami Heat play and has that kind of bankroll, the same kind needed to, say, buy an MLB team. Ideally, this person would be famous and visible, maybe with a spot on an ESPN NBA show. And the person would have to hold enough influence to convince James to do it, as the $1,000,000 (zeros for emphasis) wouldn't be enough on its own.

Oh, hey, Magic Johnson.

Johnson, the Basketball Hall of Famer, said Friday night during an ESPN broadcast he would post $1 million to the winner of the dunk contest if James entered.

"Please LeBron, get in the dunk contest," Johnson said. "I'm going to put up a million dollars. A million dollars to LeBron. Please get in the dunk contest. I go every year. I want to see you out there. A million to the winner.''

Now, let's be clear here: James would win, at least he would if he gave it his all. And he's competitive and image-conscious enough to go all in if he ever does enter. We've seen the videos (plural) popping up from his pregame routine.

That said, James has turned down the contest year after year. So maybe he has some unknown reason to be scared he might lose, thus sullying his public image.

Wait - the final round is decided by fan vote. Sign up already. Seriously.